Hero.

Chapter 9

I choke down on pills as Camden is banging on the bathroom door. Tears fall from my eyes.

"Please let me in Alex! Don't do this to yourself!"he screams from behind the door.

"Please! Stop!"he screams while banging on the door.

I choke down before my stomach is threatening to vomit it all back up.

"Ashton!"Camden screams.

Never stop banging on the door.

"ASHTON!"Camden screams louder.

I heard running footsteps as I fall to the floor. Horrible memories flashing back into my brain as my father is beating me. I thought I was finished.

But I guess I'm not.

I scream as Ashton tackle the door down.

Seeing my father's figure beating me with a belt. Crystal clear in my mind.

"Stop it!"I yell at my brain.

Ashton went to curl me up on his lap.

I start to cry.

He's holding me tighter than ever.

"I'm sorry Ash, I thought I was finished. But I guess not,"I cry.

Then saw Camden standing there. Mortify with what happened. His eyes are huge and red. I bet his voice is cracked from screaming at me.

"It's okay, everything is okay,"Ashton shushes me.

I quietly sob as he went to stroke my hair. Just the way that I stroke Camden's hair when he was upset.

I look over at Camden. He disappeared.

I lay my head on Ashton's chest. Just listening to his heartbeat.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

I'm getting a few tattoos. I'm one month clean and my scars are fading away. I'm happy about myself.
Camden turned fourteen a couple weeks ago. He's living at our grandparent's house. And my father is in prison for ten years for child abuse. And I'm living with Ashton. I'm getting along real well with his bandmates. They are hilarious.

Sometimes I would wake up from a nightmare. And sometimes the past will get to me. But I know that everything is okay and that me and Camden are both safe and sound.

The tattoo artist finish up on the last tattoo. On the back of my shoulder I'm getting a tattoo that says 'Freedom' and the words get smaller as it turns into a bird that's flying. And the other one is covered up so I get to see what it looks like later. It was a quill that makes the infinity sign and says 'Stay Strong'. It's on my forearm where the muscles are at. But I don't have any.
The needle only hurt for the first time. But I got used to it.

I feel so proud of myself.

Camden is waiting for me out in the front. Ashton is at work and he knows about me getting tattoos.
Grandma and grandpa let him come so that we can have brother/sister time.

He smiles at me when the artist said that she was done.

I thanked her before paying for it and walked out of the parlor with him by my side.

"How long do you have to wait?"he questions.

"About five minutes before I can remove it."I tell him.
My forearm feeling like I've had a flu shot insert me a couple times.

When I touch it gently, it hurts.
So I have to be careful with my arm.

"I'm happy that you are free,"he smiles.

"I am too."I smile before he wraps his arm around my waist as we kept on walking.

I'm so happy.